Islanders News

"For the second time in three years, the Islanders finished last in NHL attendance. According to 2008 attendance records published by ESPN, the Islanders rank 30th with an average of 13,640 fans attending home games and 25th in terms of attendance as percentage of capacity. Despite their last-place finish, however, the Islanders have made large gains in certain areas. Chris Dey, senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations for the Islanders, said the club reached its highest paid attendance since the 2002-03 season."

"Neither Wang nor Snow was happy with Nolan when he expressed some concern near the end of the season about going into the final year of his three-year contract without an extension. But when Snow was asked if there's any reason to believe Nolan won't return, he said, "I don't see any reason. He's our coach."Snow said he expects to sit down with Nolan within the next week to discuss the past season and what lies ahead."

"There was no lucky payoff in the NHL draft lottery last night for the Islanders, who remained fifth in the selection order after the No. 1 pick - and the chance to select high-scoring forward Steve Stamkos - went to Tampa Bay, which had the worst record in the league. So the Isles will have to look elsewhere for the scoring help they so desperately need as the NHL's second lowest-scoring team. "

"Although Snow and Nolan both may have signed off on all personnel decisions, they certainly weren't always in agreement. Wang said their differences make for healthy debate. But approaching the final season of his three-year contract, Nolan recently expressed concern that no extension has been offered, putting him in the position of a lame duck and raising questions about the organization's commitment to him."

"Nevertheless, there is considerable doubt within the organization about whether Nolan is the right man to coach a team that will be stocked next season with youngsters. Owner Charles Wang will meet with general manager Garth Snow and perhaps others on the hockey committee to discuss whether Nolan has the combination of patience and teaching ability that will allow the kids to grow."

"As for McCabe, he once again was asked about the possibility of leaving during off-season housecleaning. Various reports suggest the Leafs will try to move him to the Islanders, since his off-season home is on Long Island."

"Instead, a 4-3 loss, in a shootout, brought back uncomfortable memories of two years ago, when the Rangers lost their final home game, lost the Atlantic Division title to the Devils and lost in a playoff sweep to the Devils."

"Last night, with a chance to clinch at least fifth seed in the East and ensure a first-round series against the Devils, the Rangers slipped on a banana peel of a 4-3 shootout loss at the Garden to the Islanders that creates a weekend of uncertainty."

"Dubielewicz's 48 saves in regulation and overtime and his two stops on four shootout shooters lifted the Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Rangers in the Garden regular-season finale. But the Rangers lived to fight one more day - tomorrow."

"The Rangers have carried different emotions off the ice at Nassau Coliseum — frustration, anger, relief among them — but they found a new one (joy) Thursday night when they clinched their third consecutive playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the Islanders."

"The Rangers have made it, but they don't have it made, that's for sure. Because even though qualifying for the playoffs for a third consecutive season, after missing seven straight times going into the lockout, represents a measure of success, it isn't anything for the franchise to hang its hat on. Not that there's any notion to do so in the aftermath of last night's 3-0 playoff-clinching victory over the Islanders at the Coliseum that guarantees the Blueshirts will finish with between the fourth and seventh seed in the East depending upon what transpires this final weekend. "

"Two points at Nassau Coliseum tonight would put the Rangers in the playoffs with two games to spare, not a bad idea since they don't have a spare Scott Gomez to replace the one laboring with bruised ribs."

"They gave the desperate Devils all they could handle right up until Islanders nemesis Zach Parise deflected a puck past goaltender Joey MacDonald 29 seconds into overtime. That was the Devils' 47th shot on goal and the one that finally secured, not only a 2-1 victory over the Isles, but also a Stanley Cup playoff berth for New Jersey."

""A little bit. Not to the extent where I couldn't sleep at night, but seeing what Washington is doing, well...," the Devils' goalie said after last night's 2-1 overtime victory over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum secured their berth."

"The Devils' objective tonight sounds pretty simple. All they need to do is defeat the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum and they will clinch a playoff berth for the 11th consecutive season — regardless of what ninth-place Washington does tonight against Carolina. Beating the Islanders this season has been far from simple for the Devils, though. They've done it only once in seven tries (1-5-1)."

"If the Islanders can look past the final score, many of the numbers in recent boxscores likely will add up to a better team when training camp opens in September. For instance, rookies Blake Comeau and Frans Nielsen had two of the Isles' three goals in their 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum, and rookie Kyle Okposo recorded his third assist and fourth point in his six NHL games."

"Last night Philly made it seven victories in eight meetings this season against the Isles, winning a 4-3 shootout at the Coliseum."

"After stopping Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in the shootout, Dubielewicz was beaten on a delayed move by third shooter Daniel Briere, who scored the only shootout goal to give the Flyers a 4-3 win. It was the first loss for Dubielewicz in a shootout after four previous wins."

"Staring at a 3-2 deficit with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Thoresen went into the corner, stripped defenseman Radek Martinek of the puck, then fed Mike Richards at the net for the tying goal, setting up overtime."

"It was this time a year ago with four games left in the regular season that backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz became a folk hero in Islanders Country by winning the last four games to reach the playoffs."

"If Tortorella gets bounced in the off-season, and that's a strong possibility with Tampa's ownership changing hands, he won't be out of work long. It's believed the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators are ready to at least speak to Tortorella if he becomes available."

"How about a "Let's go Islanders!" chant from the Rangers faithful? The Isles, reduced to the role of spoiler, can perhaps make the Eastern Conference a little less muddled for the Rangers by pinning a defeat on the Flyers tonight at the Coliseum. "

"The shuttle between Long Island and Bridgeport continued Thursday night, but for one player, the trip was one way. Forward Jeff Tambellini was reassigned to Bridgeport to help the Islanders' AHL affiliate in its quest for a playoff berth. In 31 games with the Islanders this season, the 23-year-old had one goal and three assists."

"Sidney Crosby played his first game at Mellon Arena in more than two months last night. Went home without a point to show for it. Same with Marian Hossa, who finally got a chance to skate on Crosby's right side before leaving the game with an unspecified injury... None of that mattered, though, because Jarkko Ruutu turned in the latest in a series of strong performances, leaving his fingerprints all over the Penguins' 3-1 victory against the New York Islanders."

"Jarkko Ruutu scored an unassisted, shorthanded goal late in the second period, and Georges Laraque notched a key insurance goal in the third to help the Penguins (45-26-7) to a 3-1 victory over the Islanders. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury chipped in with 27 saves, as the Penguins gained a one-point lead over Montreal for first place in the Eastern Conference."

"The Islanders have a chance to play spoiler down the stretch. Tonight, they will try to spoil the return of Sidney Crosby."

"The 4-1 victory was a far cry from the team's prior outing, a desultory loss in Philadelphia on Sunday. And regardless of whether the Isles, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention against the Flyers, are simply trying to make things more difficult for their opponents trying to boost themselves in the standings, coach Ted Nolan just wants to see more of it."

"But until the Penguins do those things -- and especially if they fail to -- their 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum last night will go down as one of the low points of their season, a squandered opportunity to earn two points against a thoroughly overmatched opponent."

"Losses this late in a season always hurt. The New York Islanders' 4-1 victory Monday at Nassau Coliseum rendered the Penguins more deflated than any first-place team should feel. "

"If Pittsburgh arrived at Nassau Coliseum hoping for a breather in its fight with Montreal for first place in the Eastern Conference, it was understandable. The Islanders had lost six of their previous seven games and were officially eliminated from playoff contention the previous night in Philadelphia. But as the Islanders took control in the second period with two goals and a 14-3 advantage in shots, the Penguins sagged visibly. "

"In his first start in goal as an Islander, Joey MacDonald basically was cannon fodder against a Philadelphia power play ranked second in the NHL. The Flyers went 3-for-5 on their power play in a 4-1 victory over the broken-down Isles last night at Wachovia Center, and MacDonald basically made the 22 saves he had a decent chance to make."

"The Flyers' march to the playoffs continued last night at the Wachovia Center with a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. John Stevens' club moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points, two ahead of idle Boston."

"The Flyers couldn't think of anything. They slipped by the visiting Rangers on Friday in a shootout. And last night they took care of the Islanders, 4-1, at the Wachovia Center."

"Need some fuel for your playoff drive? Gas up with the New York Islanders. Got an aching power play? The Islanders are the perfect cure. If there is one thing the Flyers will miss next season when the NHL reduces the number of divisional games, it will be facing the guys in the orange, blue and white. Daniel Briere notched a goal and two assists and the Flyers pumped three power-play goals past seldom-used goaltender Joey MacDonald to score an important 4-1 victory over the Islanders Sunday night in front of 19,136 fans at the Wachovia Center."

"Only two other goalies have beaten the New York Islanders six times in a season: the New York Rangers' Mike Dunham in 2003-04 and the New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur in 2006-07."

"All of which means there is absolutely no reason for the Penguins to take this game, or the Islanders, seriously when the teams meet at 7:08 tonight at Nassau Coliseum."

"If there's one major question about an Islanders season that has come apart at the seams largely because of an injury list numbering 11 players, it's where coach Ted Nolan stands with the organization. Nearing the end of the second season of his three-year deal, the club has yet to approach him about a contract extension that would put an end to speculation about his "lame duck" status for next season."

"Okposo's one-timer off a feed from Richard Park on the power play with 2:35 left to play was the game-winner in a 3-1 Islanders' victory over the Devils Friday night at Prudential Center."

"The out-of-it Islanders hoped to provide a glimpse into their future by calling up Okposo earlier this week, and their 2006 first-round pick never will forget his first NHL goal. It came helmetless, and it came against superstar Martin Brodeur with 2:35 remaining as the Isles maintained their inexplicable season-long dominance of the Devils with a 3-1 victory on Friday night at the Rock."

""Score one goal? It's not enough," Devil coach Brent Sutter finally conceded last night after his team was limited to that total or less in regulation for the 26th time this season, falling 3-1 to the Isles in Newark - keeping the Devils from taking over first place from the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference."

"Playing in his second NHL game, Okposo scored his first goal on a power play with less than three minutes remaining and the Islanders outlasted the Devils, 3-1, before 17,075 at the Prudential Center."

"The Devils would've been better off facing the Islanders in a boxing ring. It doesn't help in the standings, but they won all three fights last night at the Rock."

"his game is precisely the sort the Devils must win if they're hoping to claim the Eastern Conference title. Failure would be another calamity. Still rocked by losing their sixth of six (0-3-3) this season to the Rangers Wednesday, the Devils will try to recoup tonight in Newark against the expiring Islanders, whom they've beaten only once in six (1-4-1) meetings this season. "

"For the second straight year, Rick DiPietro has been forced to undergo hip surgery, this time on his right hip. The Islander goalie underwent successful surgery yesterday in Vail, Colo., after receiving MRI results. The operation was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, who did the surgery on DiPietro's left hip after the playoffs last season. "

"After undergoing surgery on both hips in less than one year, and with 13 seasons remaining on his 15-year contract, Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro might be forced into a lessened workload beginning next season, coach Ted Nolan acknowledged Wednesday. "

"By the end of his team's 3-1 loss to Toronto, Islanders coach Ted Nolan was happier with the performance of kids like Okposo, Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim than he was with his veterans."

"Okposo, the heralded 19-year-old right wing, wore No. 21 and saw significant minutes against Toronto at the Coliseum. But his inclusion into the lineup couldn't cure the Isles' season-long scoring woes in a 3-1 defeat that extended the team's losing streak to six games."

"It also has paved the way for top prospect Kyle Okposo and others to accelerate their futures. What it can't do, according to flabbergasted coach Ted Nolan, is excuse the rest of the team from drab efforts such as last night's 3-1 loss to Toronto at Nassau Coliseum. "

""I was kinda laughing to myself. Stuff like that happens and it was my old friend, he doesn't score that much so good for him," Toskala said about the most improbable goal that ended up a humorous footnote to the Leafs' 3-1 win over the New York Islanders last night at the Nassau Coliseum."

" Just what was going on behind the chrome bars of that mask in this, arguably the lowest point in his professional career? "I was laughing," the cool Finn admitted after the Maple Leafs' improbable come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders last night."

"That dubious distinction now belongs to Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala, who flubbed a bouncing 190-foot shot from New York Islanders defenceman Rob Davison during the Leafs' 3-1 come-from-behind victory last night."

"For the second time in two seasons, Islanders franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro will have season-ending hip surgery. The operation will take place today at Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., an NHL source said, and DiPietro is expected to recover in time for training camp in September."

"It was during Ted Nolan's concession speech after the Islanders' last playoff loss in Buffalo last spring, when he said that he was more convinced than ever that you really need grit to win in the National Hockey League. When that hit this pair of ears, two words came to mind right away: "Uh oh.""